Car Review: BMW 540i & Sunfire GT

This month, I had the pleasure of test driving two extremely different, yet exciting cars: the 2001 Pontiac Sunfire GT and the 2001 BMW 540i. The Sunfire GT offers great value, especially for the young and enthusiastic driver, while the 540i is, in my opinion, one of the best luxury automobiles on the market.

Just remember that this isn't a comparison between the two vehicles; it's a basic review on each car's main features. Let's face it, they're both fine cars, but the 540i is in a league of its own and puts the Pontiac Sunfire to shame. (It's also exactly 3 times its price and boasts nearly twice the horsepower.)

2001 pontiac sunfire gt coupe

The 2001 Pontiac Sunfire GT offers racy styling and excellent value for young drivers who love to rev their engines. The GT comes with a 5-speed manual, or a 3 or 4-speed automatic transmission. I highly suggest you opt for the stick shift because it's more fuel efficient, more attractive to the women, and you'll be shaving nearly a second off your 0 to 60 mph time.

Under the hood, the GT is equipped with a 16-valve 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter twin-cam engine (optional on the SE model but highly recommended). The suspension, however, doesn't match the sporty feel of the Sunfire; it's way too soft and takes away some of its performance.

The GT has a roomy and comfy interior, and you'll have many options to choose from for a pleasant, comfortable ride. But beware, because the price you'll pay for these options is the difference between receiving good value from the Sunfire and receiving a very average return on investment.

Unfortunately, for all you guys who would rather drive with the roof down, Pontiac has discontinued the convertible model, at least for this year.